Computer-Aided Design and Biological Evaluation of Diazaspirocyclic D4R Antagonists

Abstract

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra, resulting in motor dysfunction. Current treatments are primarily centered around enhancing dopamine signaling or providing dopamine replacement therapy and face limitations such as reduced efficacy over time and adverse side effects. To address these challenges, we identified selective dopamine receptor subtype 4 (D₄R) antagonists not previously reported as potential adjuvants for PD management. In this study, a library screening and artificial neural network quantitative structure–activity relationship (QSAR) modeling with experimentally driven library design resulted in a class of spirocyclic compounds to identify candidate D₄R antagonists. However, developing selective D₄R antagonists suitable for clinical translation remains a challenge.